As a high school principal, how do I increase student attendance:?

Question

Poor In-School District, high student absenteeism, poor test results

Answer 1

I would suggest looking into something like the Renaissance program. Since it was instituted at our school, attendance has improved. Find more info at http://www.jostens.com/renaissance/index.asp

# Renaissance schools often focus their program on four target areas:

* Increasing student attendance
* Improving overall academic performance
* Increasing graduation rates
* Creating a positive, safe school environment

# In schools that use the Renaissance program as part of their curriculum, administrators have noted positive progress in areas such as:

* Grade point averages
* Standardized test scores
* Attendance
* Discipline

Good luck!

Answer 2

I don't have kids and I can't imagine how hard it is to deal with the situation that you are in. I am sure it is easy to say "the parents need to be involved" with out thinking about that single mom that works a couple of jobs to pay rent and buy food.

I am thinking that this has to come from the kids specifically, can you identify the community leaders at the school. I am not talking about the smartest kids, who does everyone listen to? Would it work to develop a council that has them making some real decisions that can contribute to the school. This council would have to be mentored by teachers or parents forcing the issue to be community issues that others would want to be involved in.

Also, how are you rewarding the students that are achieving intellectually. Public displays may make them targets but there has to be something that can be done that shows others that intelligence is rewarded. Are there small time celebrities that you can tap into that could acknowledge these students.

I know there are many teaching students or just students in general that are trying to get some community service in for grad schools. Could you set up a system of volunteers that can take the work load off of your teachers for students that need extra help. The higher the ratio of teachers to students might keep the kids and check and give them more of a reason to go in.

Answer 3

The high school is a body therefore the problem is not just yours. You identified the problem, discuss the problem with the teachers and also with the students, organize the discussion in such a way that everyone can speak without fear or reprissals of any kind, respect if some people wish to give their opinions in private. Try and get the opinion not only of those that do attend, but also those that are irregular on their attendance or have dropped out. Also try to have opinions of teachers, if there are any, who gave up or went away. You will then have the raw information to analyze. Keep in mind that to keep interest in an activity there has to be purpose and it also has to be fun and the atmosphere has to be the opposite of a represive institution. Working with the whole body requires leadership and a certain charisma but above all requires commitment. Perhaps you can contact a certain high school math teacher of spanish origin, from Bolivia actually, won many prices and a movie was made of his successful efforts in high school education in poverty stricken areas. I can't remember his name but it would be very easy for you to track this educator, if you can contact him I am sure he could be the source of very practical advises. I had (still have actually) a nephew who at 17 was handed me by his father who did not have the means, to see if I could help him go thorough the University. I almost never had been with him, he was lazy, unkept, happy go lucky, smoked, drunk, and had a very shallow education and culture.... a mission almost impossible... but he was very bright. Today after already completing a Law career he is in Germany where he has just finished a Master's study, in the process self taught himself German, all through is own efforts (barely minimum financial help) and is now about to achieve being eligible por a Doctorate. I remember now all the unsavoiry moments and very difficult situations and I can tell you it was worth it.... and your endeavor is certainly worth it... Good Luck.

Answer 4

Find a way for them to feel involoved. If they are given responsibility they will live up to it. Start something. Maybe they need a movement to be a part of. Something they can learn about and believe in could teach them how to be effective. We need effective people. People who learn how to make the big changes. Start beautification projects and art contests. Give the kids imput. Have the science classes plant gardens that the art classes design. Let the kids submit designs for murals, or hold art contests and the winner gets do design murals. Also I do believe some kids need to be out of the class room more often. Most schools do not take advantage of their campuses the way they should. Show the kids that what America needs is a generation of leaders who understand life from a background other than the Middle-America and up status quo. Find charities and organizations and movements the kids can foster.

Answer 5

Offer breakfast. Make a prize chart for children. If you come to school you earn stickers and the highest prize is an ipod. At the end of the quarter a picnic or a trip to worlds of fun for those who come and are not gone more than 10 days with a legimate excuse doctor etc. They get discounted only have to pay so much. Make a fun raiser and have it in a parking lot. Sell cookies, snow cones, cotton candies and have car washes. Make them pay 20 dollars each year for enrollment. It goes to good use for the fundraisers. Every quarter have a picnic or party for students supervised. Make it clear that students that come to class, non tardy or late will get party. Everyday have certain subjects like Math day in homeroom that they are given papers to fill out. Than every subject everyday in homeroom. Than you will improve as they take a test of how they have learned.

Answer 6

Start school after 9AM for students and end school at 3 or 4PM.
That way high school students who have to work evenings and those who want to come to school PREPARED do not have to arrive on empty stomachs and deal with tardiness as an attendance issue as frequently as they must with early school openings before 9AM (some children prefer absenteeism to lateness). Find a creative way to get parents INVOLVED in their children's lives on a personal level and in a positive way. Enlist the help of local police departments to ENFORCE neighborhood curfew laws with heavy fines and/or jail time so that children will be forced to stay home and seek creative uses of their time, giving HOMEWORK, STUDY and LEARNING a fighting chance against the competition you have from unsupervised peer pressures and the "mean streets".

Answer 7

I'm sure that there are many resources on the net that deals with this, but I'd suggest exploring best practices among schools that are simular to your own. As a former school board student member, I've heard of countless examples of success stories of so-called "problem schools" that made significant improvements This will require a lot of patience, creativity, and active participation from your faculty and direct involvement and input from parents. All of these groups have to buy into the idea for it to be successful. I really wish you the best.

Answer 8

I was an assistant principal in an inner city high school in Chicago- in charge of attendance. I f you would describe your school and area more I could certainly help you. When I took over the attendance level was 72%- 89% when I left, and now back to 70%. I can give you a complete program for increasing attendance.

Answer 9

I am a student. I think that you should try to make school more fun and make it so that some of that students who usually skip class want to come. There is a movie of a teacher who made his class fun and the started out all bad. It is called "The Ron Clark Story" and it is a true story. It's really good.

Answer 10

The general answer is to make your school a place they want, and are proud to come to. Maybe that involves activities that specifically target your minorities, etc, or promoting the successes of your top students. Lot of ideas out there and lots of success stories. I recommend getting together with educators from schools who have made successful turnaround and "partner" with them to learn how they did it.